Clock setting mechanism

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for setting the hour hand of a clock one hour ahead at the beginning of daylight saving time or one hour back at the end of daylight saving time by moving two gears that are connected together and are meshed, respectively, with a gear on the shaft that drives the minute hand and a separate gear on the concentric shaft that drives the hour hand. The pair of gears is mounted on a support that may be pivoted about the same axis as the minute and hour hands by moving the support mechanically or through the interaction of a magnetic member on the support and a magnetic controller.

United States Patent 1191 Haydon 1 1 CLOCK SETTING MECHANISM Arthur W.Haydon, Middlebury, Conn.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Tri-Tech, lnc., Waterbury, Conn.

[22] Filed: June 18, 1974 {21] Appl, No.: 480,366

[52] US. Cl 74/801; 58/34; 58/35 R;

235/144 [51] Int. Cl. Flfih 1/28; G04c 9/00; G06c 15/42 [58] Field ofSearch 58/34, 35 R, 36, 26 R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1 Aug. s, 1975 PrimaryExaminer-Leonard H. Gerin Arwrney, Agent, or FirmLee C. Robinson. Jr.

[5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for setting the hour hand of a clock one hourahead at the beginning of daylight saving time or one hour back at theend of daylight saving time by moving two gears that are connectedtogether and are meshed, respectively, with a gear on the shaft thatdrives the minute hand and a separate gear on the concentric shaft thatdrives the hour hand. The pair of gears is mounted on a support that maybe pivoted about the same axis as the minute and hour hands by movingthe support mechanically or through the inte raction of a magneticmember on the support and a magnetic controller.

19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTEU B 1975 FIG. 2

PATENTED AUG 5 gm;

CLOCK SETTING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to apparatus for adjusting the relativeangular position of geared devices, and particularly to apparatus forchanging the setting of the hour hand of a clock by one hour.

2. The Prior Art In places such as schools, factories, commercialbuildings and the like where there are large numbers of clocks that mustall be reset at the beginning and end of each period of daylight savingtime, it is desirable to make the resetting as simple as possible and atthe same time to make sure that the same clock or group of clocks cannotinadvertently be reset a second time, for example, by a secondmaintenance person, after having been set to the new time. Even in thecase of individual clocks used in the home, it is desirable to provide asimple means to adjust the setting of the hour hand from standard timeto daylight saving time and from daylight saving time to standard timeand to be sure that the setting is done only once and is not repeated bysomeone unaware of the fact that the change in time had already beenmade.

In the case of clocks in public or commercial buildings it is common tofind that they are located high on a wall where they cannot easily bereached. As a result, the maintenance personnel may have to carry a stepladder from one clock location to the next to reset each clock. Not onlyis this inconvenient, but the resetting may have to be done from aposition in which the clock face is seen at an acute angle, which canresult in incorrect setting due to parallax.

In many conventional clocks it is common to provide a driving mechanismthat includes a motor and a reduction gear train to drive the minutehand or indicating device of the clock at the proper speed. For a twelvehour clock with dial and hands a further step-down gear mechanism havingthe specific ratio of 1:12 connects the shaft of the minute hand to theshaft of the hour hand. When the hour hand is to be reset, it is customary to override or separate the gear train ahead of the minute handso that the minute hand may be easily adjusted by one full revolution,either forward or backward as necessary to change the setting of thehour hand in the desired way. In doing so it is not uncommon to findthat the minute hand has been placed a minute or two off its propersetting.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a simplemeans for changing the setting of the hour hand of a clock by one hourwithout affecting the setting of the minute hand and without permittingthe hour to be set two successive times in the same direction.

A more general object of the invention is to provide new and improvedapparatus for adjusting the relative positions of a pair of interrelatedtime indicating devices.

A further object is to provide means to indicate the setting of a clockfor either standard time or daylight saving time.

A still further object is to provide means for setting a clock either anhour ahead or an hour back by means external to the clock and capable ofeffecting the setting without requiring precise adjustment of the handsof the clock by the person carrying out the setting.

Further objects will become apparent from the following specificationand the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the foregoing objects, agear mechanism which is normally part of a clock, but which could bepart of other apparatus instead, includes a first gear and a second gearmounted coaxially but independently of each other so that they canrotate at different speeds. A third gear meshes with the first gear andis connected to a fourth gear that meshed with the second gear. In aclock with dial and hand, for example, the first gear would be mountedon the shaft of the minute hand and the second gear would be attached tothe shaft of the hour hand. The third and fourth gears are preferablyformed as a planetary gear assembly and rotate on the same axle whichmoves orbitally relative to the axis of the first and second gears.Since in a twelve hour clock the overall gear ratio from the minute handto the hour hand is 12:], it is convenient to select one of the meshedpairs of gears, for example, the first and third gears, to have a ratioof 4:1 and the other pair of meshed gears to have a ratio of 3:l. Thethird and fourth gears are mounted on a support that can be moved alongan arcuate path to keep these gears in mesh with the first and secondgears, respectively. Such a support may conveniently be an arm pivotedabout the same axis as the first and second gears.

It is customary in clocks of this type to drive the hands by arelatively high speed motor. The speed of the shaft of the motor isreduced by a gear train to the proper speed to drive the minute hand.This gear train usually has a relatively large step-down ratio betweenthe motor shaft and the minute hand shaft. When the support for thethird and fourth gears is moved pivotally to cause these gears to followan arcuate path in mesh with the first and second gears, the third gearrolls along the surface of the first gear as support is pivoted from afirst position to a second position. This rolling movement is impartedto the fourth gear which, in turn, rotates the second gear through anangle that is determined in part by the extent of arcuate movement ofthe support and in part by the rotation of the third and fourth gears.The extent of the arcuate movement and the various gear ratios is suchthat the hour hand is shifted either ahead or back one hour.

In certain preferred embodiments the support for the third and fourthgears is attached to an arm that extends through the clock housing, andtwo end positions are marked Daylight Saving Time" and Standard Time".Alternatively, the support includes a magnetic device, either in theform of a permanent magnet or a suitable ferro-magnetically soft member.The magnetic device is placed so that it can interact with anothermagnetic device external to the clock housing. This latter deviceillustratively may comprise a permanent magnet that can be moved along apath near the clock housing to shift the position of the support fromone of its two positions to the other. If the magnetic attractionbetween the internal magnetic device and the external magnetic device issufficiently great, the change of setting can be made without being verycareful to cause the external device to follow a precise path. This isadvantageous in setting a clock high enough on a wall to be out ofreach, because the external device can simply be a magnet attached to apole or rod long enough to reach the clock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I shows the face ofa clock withan arm to adjust the angular position of the hour hand between astandard time position and a daylight time position.

FIG. 2 shows the geometrical relationship between rotary members toobtain relative angular setting in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view of the clock of FIG. 1 with the face and hands removedto show the gears and angular set ting member.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 to illustrate a magnetic device forsetting the clock between daylight saving time and standard time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The clock in FIG. I is ofstandard appearance with a face 11, an hour hand 12, and a minute hand13. Another hand to indicate seconds could be added and the inventioncould also be embodied in an alam1 clock, or another device, but thesefeatures are separate from the present invention, which lies in thesimple angular setting mechanism. In the case of the clock in FIG. 1,the only part of this mechanism that is visible is a handle 14 shown asbeing movable between a position marked S.T. to stand for standard timeand a position marked D.S.T. to stand for daylight saving time.

The handle 14 is shown in solid lines in the standard time position, andthe hands 12 and 13 are also shown in solid lines at a setting of 2o'clock. The alternative location of the handle during daylight savingtime is in the position indicated in broken lines, and it corresponds toa one hour advance of the hour hand 12 to a position indicating 3o'clock. The handle 14 can be kept indefinitely in either of thesepositions by friction or by a mechanical or magnetic detent, which isnot shown in this figure.

FIG. 2 is a geometrical construction of the basic angular settingmechanism suitable for use in the clock shown in FIG. 1. The hour handof a clock based on a twelve hour system rotates l/12 of a revolution,or 30, each hour and the minute hand rotates one revolution, or 360,each hour. While the hands themselves are not shown in FIG. 2, thecommon axis on which they would rotate is the axis of two concentricshafts 16 and 17. The inner shaft 16 is usually the minute hand shaft,and the hollow outer shaft 17 is the hour hand shaft. The shaft 16 isconnected to a rotary driving member 18 which will be referred to as theminute gear. A second rotary member 19 is attached to the shaft 17 andis referred to as the hour gear.

The minute gear 18 drives a third rotary member in the form of a gear21, shown in solid lines in the position that would correspond to thestandard time position in the clock in FIG. 1. This gear has a shaft 22on which another rotary member in the form of a gear 23 is also mounted.In fact, it is common practice to mold all of the gears 18, 19, 21, and23 of a suitable plastic material such as Delrin, which is a trademarkof E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company for an aeetol homopolymer. Theshaft 22 and the gears 21 and 23 may be molded as a single element, theradii of the gears 21 and 23 being such that they mesh respectively,with the gears 18 and l9.

In order to change the angular position of the shaft 17 relative to theshaft 16, from an arbitrary position indicated by an arrow 24 to aposition indicated by the arrow 24', which is ahead of the arrow 24 by30 clockwise, the gears 21 and 23 are moved orbitally with respect tothe gears 18 and 19 through an angle or to a position indicated inbroken lines. During the orbital movement of the gears 21 and 23 both ofthem remain meshed with their respective gears 18 and 19. If it isassumed that the gear 18 remains in a fixed position, the gear 21 mustroll on the surface of the gear 18 to turn by an angle [3 while movingbodily through the orbital are defined by the angle a. The relationshipbetween the angles a and B is indicated by the equation:

r B I l where r is the radius of the gear 18 and n is the gear ratiobetween the gears 18 and 21.

Since the gears 21 and 23 are formed as a rigid unit. rotation of thegear 21 through the angle B causes the gear 23 also to rotate throughthe angle B as both of these gears are moved orbitally through the anglea. The gear 23 is kept constantly in mesh with the gear 19, and as aresult the gear 19 rotates through the angle 7 determined by theequation where r is the radius of the gear 23 and n is the ratio of thegear 23 to the gear 19.

Combining equations 1 and 2 eliminates and results in In a clock theoverall ratio between the gears 18 and 19 is the product of n, times nwhich is 12, so that It will be noted that the gear ratios n and n arecombined into a fixed number 12 in equation (4). Thus, it does notmatter whether the numbers in and n: are 3 and 4 or 2 and 6 or even 12and 1, as long as their product is 12. For the sake of incorporatingthem in a minimum space the ratios of 3 and 4 are preferred.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the rotation of the gear 19 and its shaft17 when the gears 21 and 23 move through the angle a is less than a bythe angle 7. Furthermore, since the desired angle of rotation of thegear 19 and its shaft 17 is 30, in order to transfer the setting of aclock between standard time and daylight saving time the relationshipbetween the angles a and 'y is Substituting equation (4) in equation (5)gives (6) and substituting equation (6) in equation (4) gives Thus, thegears 21 and 23 must be moved orbitally through an angle of 360lll torotate the gear 19 and its shaft 17 through an angle of 30 with respectto the gear 18 and its shaft 16 if the overall ratio of the rates ofrotation of the shafts 16 and 17 is 12:]. Obviously other shaft ratioswould require different numbers but could be calculated in the same way.

FIG. 3 shows the clock mechanism in greater detail, and includes a motor25 which may be a two-wire stepper motor of the type disclosed in HaydonUS. Pat. No. 3,495,107 or any other clock motor either electrical orspring-operated. If the normal speed of the motor 25 is relatively high,a gear box 26 may be attached between the motor 25 and the remainder ofthe gear mechanism in an enclosure 27 but if the motor 25 has a lowenough speed, in this case 1 rpm, it is unnecessary to provide the gearbox 26.

The motor or gear box is supported by a plate 28 that forms the rearwall of the gear enclosure 27. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, thegear box 26 has an output shaft 29 with a pinion 31 at its end. Thispinion extends through an opening 32 in the wass 28 formed by offsettinga flap 33. The pinion 31 meshes with a gear 34 mounted on an axle 36sffixed to the wall 28. The gear 34 is rigidly attached to a concentricpinion 37 to rotate with the pinion as a unit. In fact, the gear 34 andthe pinion 37 may conveniently be molded of Delrin, although it is notnecessary that they be so formed. The pinion 37 is meshed with anothergear 38 that is rigidly attached to a pinion 39 and is rotatablysupported along with the pinion 39 on an axle 40. The axle 40 is anextension ofa post 41 on the front wall 42 of the enclosure 27, and itis convenient to form the axle 40, the post 41, the front wall 42, and acylindrical side wall 43 as a one-piece structure molded of Delrin. Thepinion 39 meshes with a gear 44 rotatably mounted on an alignment shaft46 that extends into the gear 31, and a spacer 47 keeps the gear 44 in acorrect position on the shaft 46.

The minute gear 18, shown also in FIG. 2, is molded as part of a unitarystructure with the gear 44 and the shaft 16. The gear 18 meshes with thegear 21, which is formed as a unitary structure with the gear 23. Thelatter meshes with the hour gear 19, which is molded as a unit with thehollow shaft 17. The minute hand 12 is attached to the outer end of theshaft 16, for example by means of a screw 48, and the hour hand 13 isattached to the outer end of the shaft 17 by being pressed thereon.

The shaft 17 is supported in a bushing 49, threaded into the front wall42 of the enclosure 27. A nut 51 is also threaded onto the bushing 49 tohold the dial 52 in place. The position of the dial 52 relative to thegear structure 27 is fixed by any convenient indexing means, such as aplurality of screws of which only one screw 53 appears in FIG. 3.

The bushing 49 also forms a short axle for the handle 14. This handleextends through an opening 54 in the side wall of the enclosure 27 andit has a stub axle 56 on which the gears 21 and 23 are rotatablymounted. A small detent 55 obstructs part of the opening 54 so that thehandle 14 has to pushed toward the rear of the enclosure 27 in order tobe moved out of the position in which it is illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows part of the chain of gears in the housing 27 including,particularly, the arrangement of the minute gear 18, the hour gear 19,and the planetary gears 21 and 23 supported by the handle 14. As may beseen, the handle has an enlarged circular end 57 that encircles thelarger end of the bushing 49 so that the handle can pivot on thebushing. The axle 56 that extends from the handle rotatable supports thegears 21 and 23 and, since the axle 56 moves along an orbital path withre spect to the gears 18 and 19, it keeps the gears 21 and 23 in meshwith the gears 18 and 19 in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

The handle 14 is shown midway between its two end positions and directlybehind the center of the detent 55. The detent 55 forms, together withadjacent edges of the sidewall 43, a pair of detent slots 58 and 59 intowhich the handle 14 can fit in either of its end positions. It cannot gobeyond these positions and thus the setting of the shaft 17 with respectto the shaft 16 is limited so that the shaft 17 can only move 30.However, in either of the positions of the handle 14, the transmissionof power through the gears is continuous.

Although the shaft 17 is spoken of as being angularly set relative tothe shaft 16, it is equally correct to say that it is set with respectto the overall structure of the enclosure 27. Furthermore, during thesetting process there is continuous movement of all of the gears.Normally the handle would be moved from one of its end positions to theother so quickly that there would be no perceptible rotation of even theminute hand shaft 16, but it is possible to move the handle 14 quiteslowly. Since the motion of the gears 21 and 23 is entirely orbital,neither slow movement of the handle 14 nor rapid movement would have anyeffect on the shaft 16 and would only serve to set the shaft 17 to aposition 30 different from the position it would have occupied if suchrelocation ofthe handle 14 from one of its end positions to the otherhad not taken place.

FIG. 5 shows a clock similar to that in FIG. 1 except that part of theface has been broken away to illustrate a magnet 61 attached to an arm62 similar to the handle 14 in FIGS. 1 and 4. The arm 62 may be moved byplacing another magnet 63 near the clock and close to the glass orplastic crystal to be in close juxtaposition to the magnet 61 so thatthe field of the magnet 63 can penetrate the dial 11 and cause themagnet 61 to be drawn along as the magnet 63 moves. In this way the arm62 can be moved from either of its end positions to the other one, andit is not necessary to have an opening in the side wall of the clock fora mechanically actuated handle.

The end positions of movement of the arm 62 are fixed by twoferromagnetic members 64 and 65, which may be made of cold rolled steel,for example. The magnet latches itself on to either of these memberswhen it is brought near to them by the magnet 63. The members 64 and 65thus serve as magnet detents. In such a structure it is necessary, ofcourse, that the enclosure 27 and the dial 1] be made of nonmagneticmaterials so that they will not interfere with the magnetic couplingbetween the magnet 61 inside the clock and the external magnet 63 usedto set the clock forward or back one hour.

One of the advantages of a magnetically set clock of the type shown inFIG. 5 is that it can be mounted high on a wall, as is common in publicbuildings, and yet can be easily and safely set precisely one hour aheador one hour back by attaching the magnet to a long pole 66. The settingoperation does not require delicate manipulation of the clock; all thatneed be done is to swing the pole 66 to cause the magnet to pass acrossthe proper part of the clock to allow the field of the magnet 63 to lockonto the field of the magnet 62 and to move the arm from one of themembers 64 or 65 to the other.

Although the invention has been described with par ticular reference toan angular setting mechanism in the form of a clock with hands, it willbe apparent that the novel construction and arrangement of the variousparts also are applicable to other types of angular setting mechanisms.For example, the invention is readily adaptable for use in settingdigitally related clock indicia.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof. but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate togetherand drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively; and

means operable independently of the first and second rotary members formoving the third and fourth planetary rotary members between first andsecond predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first andsecond members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engagedwith the first and second members.

2. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second co-axial rotary members rotatable relative to eachother;

third and fourth planetary rotary members co-axial with each other andconnected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the first and secondmembers. respectively; and

means operable independently of the first and second rotary members formoving the third and fourth planetary rotary members between first andsecond predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first andsecond members while keeping the third and fourth rotary members engagedwith the first and second members.

3. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate togetherand drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively;

a movable support operable independently of the first and second rotarymembers for moving the third and fourth planetary rotary members betweenfirst and second predetermined orbital positions with respect to thefirst and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotarymembers engaged with the first and second members; and

means to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbitalpositions.

4. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second rotary members rotatable relative to each other;

third and fourth planetary rotary members connected to rotate togetherand drivingly engaging the first and second members, respectively;support for the third and fourth planetary rotary members to move thethird and fourth members between first and second predetermined orbitalpositions with respect to the first and second members while keeping thethird and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and secondmembers; and

means to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbitalpositions.

5. The angular setting means of claim 4 in which the means to hold thesupport comprises a detent.

6. The angular setting means of claim 4 in which the means to hold thesupport comprises permanent magnet means.

7. Angular setting means comprising:

a first rotary member;

a second rotary member rotary member rotatable with respect to the firstrotary member;

third and fourth rotary members connected to rotate together andengaging the first and second rotary members, respectively; support forthe third and fourth rotary members movable in an orbital are betweenfirst and second orbital positions with respect to the first rotarymember while the third and fourth rotary members remain in engagementwith the first and second rotary members, respectively; and means tomove the support independently of the first and second rotary members toeither of said predetermined orbital positions.

8. Angular setting means comprising:

a first rotary member;

a second rotary member co-axial with the first rotary member androtatable with respect to it;

third and fourth rotary members rigidly connected together and engagedwith first and second rotary members, respectively; and

a pivotally mounted support for the third and fourth rotary members tomove the third and fourth rotary members orbitally between first andsecond predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first andsecond rotary members and independently of the first and second rotarymembers while keeping the third and fourth members engaged with thefirst and second members.

9. Angular setting means comprising:

a fixed member;

a first rotary member rotatable relative to the fixed member;

a second rotary member co-axial with the first rotary member androtatable relative to the first rotary member and the fixed member;

third and fourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other andconnected to rotate together and engaging the first and second rotarymembers, respectively;

a support comprising an arm pivotally supported with respect to thefixed member and co-axial with respect to the first rotary member, and

an axle on the arm for the third and fourth rotary members, the am beingmovable independently of the first and second rotary members to move theaxle in an orbital arc with respect to the first rotary member while thethird and fourth rotary members remain in engagement with the first andsecond rotary members, respectively, when the arm is pivoted betweenfirst and second orbital positions.

10. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second co-axial rotary members rotatable with respect to eachother and comprising respective driving surfaces of different radii;

third and fourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other andconnected to rotate together and comprising driving surfaces drivinglyengaging the driving surfaces of the first and second rotary members,respectively; and

a support for said third and fourth rotary members, the support beingpivotal independently of the first and second rotary members co-axiallywith respect to the first and second rotary members to move the thirdand fourth rotary members orbitally between first and secondpredetermined orbital positions with respect to the first and secondrotary members while the third and fourth rotary members remaincontinuously engaged with the first and second rotary members.

11. Angular setting means comprising:

first and second co-axial gear of different radii rotatable with respectto each other;

third and fourth co-axial gears rigidly connected to rotate together andmeshed with the first and second gears, respectively; and

a common support for the third and fourth gears to move the third andfourth gears independently of the first and second gears and orbitallywith respect to the first and second gears while maintaining the thirdand fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively,as the common support moves within a range between first and secondorbital positions spaced apart by predetermined angle.

12. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the firstgear;

a second gear coaxial with the first gear and rotatable with respect toit;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotatewith the third gear and meshed with the second gear; and

a common support for the third and fourth gears movable independently ofthe first and second gears along an arcuate path between first andsecond positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed withthe first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicatorone hour ahead in moving the common support from the first to the secondposition and one hour back in moving the common support from the secondto the first position.

13. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect toit;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear coaxial with the third gear and connected to it to rotatewith the third gear and meshed with the second gear;

a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitallywith respect to the first and second gears between first and secondorbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed withthe first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour handindicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the secondorbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to thefirst orbital position; and

means to hold the arm in either of said orbital positions.

14. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the firstgear;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect toit;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotatewith the third gear and meshed with the second gear to drive said secondgear at a speed 1/ l 2 the speed of the first gear; and

a common support for the third and fourth gears pivotally mountedco-axially with respect to the first and second gears, and movableindependently of the first and second gears along an orbitally arcuatepath between first and second positions while keeping the third andfourth gears meshed with the first and second gears, respectively, toshift the hour indicator one hour ahead in moving the common supportfrom the first to the second position and one hour back in moving thecommon support from the second to the first position.

15. The clock setting means of claim 14 in which the arcuate spacingbetween the first and second positions is 360/ 1 l.

16. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect toit;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotatewith the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the secondgear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear;

a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally360/ll with respect to the first and second gears between first andsecond orbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshedwith the first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hourindicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the secondorbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to thefirst orbital position; and

fixed detent means on the fixed structure to hold the arm in either ofsaid orbital positions.

17. The clock setting means of claim 16 in which said fixed structurecomprises an enclosure for the gears, and the arm extends through anopening in the enclosure to be manually settable to either of the firstand second orbital positions.

18. Clock setting means comprising:

a fixed structure;

a fist gear rotatable with respect to the structure;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect toit;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotatewith the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the secondgear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear;

a common support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally360lll with respect to the first and second gears between first andsecond orbital position while keeping the third and fourth gears meshedwith the first and second gears, respec tivcly, to shift the hourindicator one hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the secondorbital position and one hour back in moving from the second to thefirst orbital position;

a magnet attached to the arm; and

ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of the first and second orbitalpositions to hold the arm in either of the first and second orbitalpositions by magnetical attraction to the magnet.

19. Clock setting means comprising:

a first gear;

a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by it;

a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect toit;

an hour indicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it;

a third gear meshed with the first gear;

a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotatewith the third gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the secondgear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear;

a common support for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360!"with respect to the first and second gears between first and secondorbital positions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed withthe first and second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicatorone hour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbitalposition and one hour back in moving from the second to the firstorbital position;

ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of said orbital positions to hold thesupport in either of said orbital positions; and

a housing enclosing the gears, support, magnet, and ferro-magnetiemeans, the magnet being located adjacent the wall of the housing tointeract with an external magnet to move the support from one of saidorbital positions to the other.

1. Angular setting means comprising: first and second rotary membersrotatable relative to each other; third and fourth planetary rotarymembers connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging the firstand second members, respectively; and means operable independently ofthe first and second rotary members for moving the third and fourthplanetary rotary members between first and second predetermined orbitalpositions with respect to the first and second members while keeping thethird and fourth rotary members engaged with the first and secondmembers.
 2. Angular setting means comprising: first and second co-axialrotary members rotatable relative to each other; third and fourthplanetary rotary members co-axial with each other and connected torotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members,respectively; and means operable independently of the first and secondrotary members for moving the third and fourth planetary rotary membersbetween first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect tothe first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotarymembers engaged with the first and second members.
 3. Angular settingmeans comprising: first and second rotary members rotatable relative toeach other; third and fourth planetary rotary members connected torotate together and drivingly engaging the first and second members,respectively; a movable support operable independently of the first andsecond rotary members for moving tHe third and fourth planetary rotarymembers between first and second predetermined orbital positions withrespect to the first and second members while keeping the third andfourth rotary members engaged with the first and second members; andmeans to hold the support in either of said predetermined orbitalpositions.
 4. Angular setting means comprising: first and second rotarymembers rotatable relative to each other; third and fourth planetaryrotary members connected to rotate together and drivingly engaging thefirst and second members, respectively; a support for the third andfourth planetary rotary members to move the third and fourth membersbetween first and second predetermined orbital positions with respect tothe first and second members while keeping the third and fourth rotarymembers engaged with the first and second members; and means to hold thesupport in either of said predetermined orbital positions.
 5. Theangular setting means of claim 4 in which the means to hold the supportcomprises a detent.
 6. The angular setting means of claim 4 in which themeans to hold the support comprises permanent magnet means.
 7. Angularsetting means comprising: a first rotary member; a second rotary memberrotary member rotatable with respect to the first rotary member; thirdand fourth rotary members connected to rotate together and engaging thefirst and second rotary members, respectively; a support for the thirdand fourth rotary members movable in an orbital arc between first andsecond orbital positions with respect to the first rotary member whilethe third and fourth rotary members remain in engagement with the firstand second rotary members, respectively; and means to move the supportindependently of the first and second rotary members to either of saidpredetermined orbital positions.
 8. Angular setting means comprising: afirst rotary member; a second rotary member co-axial with the firstrotary member and rotatable with respect to it; third and fourth rotarymembers rigidly connected together and engaged with first and secondrotary members, respectively; and a pivotally mounted support for thethird and fourth rotary members to move the third and fourth rotarymembers orbitally between first and second predetermined orbitalpositions with respect to the first and second rotary members andindependently of the first and second rotary members while keeping thethird and fourth members engaged with the first and second members. 9.Angular setting means comprising: a fixed member; a first rotary memberrotatable relative to the fixed member; a second rotary member co-axialwith the first rotary member and rotatable relative to the first rotarymember and the fixed member; third and fourth rotary members co-axialwith respect to each other and connected to rotate together and engagingthe first and second rotary members, respectively; a support comprisingan arm pivotally supported with respect to the fixed member and co-axialwith respect to the first rotary member; and an axle on the arm for thethird and fourth rotary members, the arm being movable independently ofthe first and second rotary members to move the axle in an orbital arcwith respect to the first rotary member while the third and fourthrotary members remain in engagement with the first and second rotarymembers, respectively, when the arm is pivoted between first and secondorbital positions.
 10. Angular setting means comprising: first andsecond co-axial rotary members rotatable with respect to each other andcomprising respective driving surfaces of different radii; third andfourth rotary members co-axial with respect to each other and connectedto rotate together and comprising driving surfaces drivingly engagingthe driving surfaces of the first and second rotary members,respectively; and a support for said third and fourth rotary members,the support beIng pivotal independently of the first and second rotarymembers co-axially with respect to the first and second rotary membersto move the third and fourth rotary members orbitally between first andsecond predetermined orbital positions with respect to the first andsecond rotary members while the third and fourth rotary members remaincontinuously engaged with the first and second rotary members. 11.Angular setting means comprising: first and second co-axial gear ofdifferent radii rotatable with respect to each other; third and fourthco-axial gears rigidly connected to rotate together and meshed with thefirst and second gears, respectively; and a common support for the thirdand fourth gears to move the third and fourth gears independently of thefirst and second gears and orbitally with respect to the first andsecond gears while maintaining the third and fourth gears meshed withthe first and second gears, respectively, as the common support moveswithin a range between first and second orbital positions spaced apartby predetermined angle.
 12. Clock setting means comprising: a fixedstructure; a first gear rotatable with respect to the structure; aminute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved by the firstgear; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable withrespect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to bemoved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gearco-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with thethird gear and meshed with the second gear; and a common support for thethird and fourth gears movable independently of the first and secondgears along an arcuate path between first and second positions whilekeeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the first and secondgears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead inmoving the common support from the first to the second position and onehour back in moving the common support from the second to the firstposition.
 13. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; a firstgear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicatorconnected to the first gear to be moved by it; a second gear co-axialwith the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicatorconnected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed withthe first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connectedto it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear; acommon support arm for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally withrespect to the first and second gears between first and second orbitalpositions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the firstand second gears, respectively, to shift the hour hand indicator onehour ahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbitalposition and one hour back in moving from the second to the firstorbital position; and means to hold the arm in either of said orbitalpositions.
 14. Clock setting means comprising: a fixed structure; afirst gear rotatable with respect to the structure; a minute indicatorconnected to the first gear to be moved by the first gear; a second gearco-axial with the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hourindicator connected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gearmeshed with the first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gearand connected to it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with thesecond gear to drive said second gear at a speed 1/12 the speed of thefirst gear; and a common support for the third and fourth gearspivotally mounted co-axially with respect to the first and second gears,and movable independently of the first and second gears along anorbitally arcuate path between first and second positions while keepingthe third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears,Respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead in moving thecommon support from the first to the second position and one hour backin moving the common support from the second to the first position. 15.The clock setting means of claim 14 in which the arcuate spacing betweenthe first and second positions is 360*/11.
 16. Clock setting meanscomprising: a fixed structure; a first gear rotatable with respect tothe structure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to bemoved by it; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatablewith respect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to bemoved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gearco-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with thethird gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the second gear at1/12 the speed of the first gear; a common support arm for the third andfourth gears movable orbitally 360*/11 with respect to the first andsecond gears between first and second orbital positions while keepingthe third and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears,respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving thearm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back inmoving from the second to the first orbital position; and fixed detentmeans on the fixed structure to hold the arm in either of said orbitalpositions.
 17. The clock setting means of claim 16 in which said fixedstructure comprises an enclosure for the gears, and the arm extendsthrough an opening in the enclosure to be manually settable to either ofthe first and second orbital positions.
 18. Clock setting meanscomprising: a fixed structure; a fist gear rotatable with respect to thestructure; a minute indicator connected to the first gear to be moved byit; a second gear co-axial with the first gear and rotatable withrespect to it; an hour indicator connected to the second gear to bemoved by it; a third gear meshed with the first gear; a fourth gearco-axial with the third gear and connected to it to rotate with thethird gear and meshed with the second gear to rotate the second gear at1/12 the speed of the first gear; a common support arm for the third andfourth gears movable orbitally 360*/11 with respect to the first andsecond gears between first and second orbital position while keeping thethird and fourth gears meshed with the first and second gears,respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hour ahead by moving thearm from the first to the second orbital position and one hour back inmoving from the second to the first orbital position; a magnet attachedto the arm; and ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of the first andsecond orbital positions to hold the arm in either of the first andsecond orbital positions by magnetical attraction to the magnet. 19.Clock setting means comprising: a first gear; a minute indicatorconnected to the first gear to be moved by it; a second gear co-axialwith the first gear and rotatable with respect to it; an hour indicatorconnected to the second gear to be moved by it; a third gear meshed withthe first gear; a fourth gear co-axial with the third gear and connectedto it to rotate with the third gear and meshed with the second gear torotate the second gear at 1/12 the speed of the first gear; a commonsupport for the third and fourth gears movable orbitally 360*/11 withrespect to the first and second gears between first and second orbitalpositions while keeping the third and fourth gears meshed with the firstand second gears, respectively, to shift the hour indicator one hourahead by moving the arm from the first to the second orbital positionand one hour back in moving from the second to the first orbitalposition; ferro-magnetic means adjacent each of said orbital positionsto hold the support in eiTher of said orbital positions; and a housingenclosing the gears, support, magnet, and ferro-magnetic means, themagnet being located adjacent the wall of the housing to interact withan external magnet to move the support from one of said orbitalpositions to the other.